The Highest Points Scored Against the Brooklyn Nets In NBA History

Whether in New Jersey or Brooklyn, the Nets' defence has allowed some monstrous scoring nights throughout the team’s existence, with the following five players scoring 58 or more points. 

Damian Lillard’s 60-point effort on November 8, 2019, remains tied for the most ever scored against the Nets. The Blazers' star guard attacked from everywhere, hitting 19 of 33 from the field, including 7 three-pointers and a perfect 15-for-15 at the line. While Lillard walked away victorious in the battle of the point guards with Kyrie Irving, it was the Nets that came away with the more meaningful 119–115 win.

On Christmas Day 1984, New York Knicks forward Bernard King delivered one of the greatest holiday performances in NBA history, dropping 60 on the New Jersey Nets. With his trademark mid-post footwork and unstoppable pull-ups, King shot 19-for-30 with no three-pointers and lived at the line, hitting 22-for-26. Despite his individual brilliance, the Knicks fell 120–114, but King’s Christmas scoring record remains one of the most iconic games of the 1980s.

Of the five players on this list, very few would expect to see Short’s name among the other Hall-of-Fame players or potential Hall-of-Fame talent. Yet the Golden State Warriors forward’s 59-point night (the highest-scoring of his career) on November 17, 1984, is one of the most overlooked scoring games in the history of the league. The Warriors forward torched New Jersey with a mix of silky jumpers and aggressive drives, hitting 20 of 28 from the field and adding four threes. As with the first two names on this list, the individual performance was more than impressive, but it was all for naught as the Warriors lost 131–114.

Another impressive number on the stat sheet came in yet another loss, as the Houston Rockets fell 145–142 in overtime to the Nets. During his historic 2018–19 scoring run, in which he averaged a league-leading 36.1 points, Harden hung 58 on Brooklyn on January 16, 2019. He attempted a staggering 34 shots (the other four Nets starters combined for 41), hit five threes, and went 21-for-23 at the line. Harden also added 10 rebounds and 6 assists, nearly leading Houston to a comeback. It was a typical Harden blend of isolation mastery, foul-drawing genius, and relentless volume.

Finally, we have a winner! Jordan’s 58‑point outing on February 26, 1987, came during his first season leading the league in scoring. Lighting up the Nets with a mix of acrobatic finishes and mid‑range precision, Jordan scored six more points than his four starting teammates combined, shooting 16‑for‑25 and an incredible 26‑for‑27 from the free‑throw line. Chicago won 128–113, with the performance remaining one of Jordan’s most efficient, high‑volume scoring nights.